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How old is the high speed train?

1964: The birth of Shinkansen Tokaido Shinkansen was conceived to operate at 210 km/h (this was later increased), with a broad loading gauge, electric motor units powered at 25 kV AC, Automatic Train Control (ATC), Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) and other modern improvements. High-Speed Rail (HSR) was born.



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The train — frequently referred to as the “dream super-express” by the Japanese press — was completed in 1964. It ran from Tokyo to Osaka, shortening the travel time between the two biggest cities in Japan from seven hours to three.

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The earliest high-speed rail line built in Europe was the Italian Direttissima, the Florence–Rome high-speed railway 254 km (158 mi) in 1978, which used FS Class E444 3 kV DC locomotives. Italy pioneered the use of the Pendolino tilting train technology.

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1828 - Railway (horse-drawn carriage) Ceské Budejovice - Linz, first public railway in continental Europe, with length 120 km and rail gauge 1,106 mm (3 ft 7 1/2 in), section Ceské Budejovice - Kerschbaum put into operation on 30 September 1828.

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Puffing Billy is the world's oldest surviving steam locomotive, constructed in 1813–1814 by colliery viewer William Hedley, enginewright Jonathan Forster and blacksmith Timothy Hackworth for Christopher Blackett, the owner of Wylam Colliery near Newcastle upon Tyne, in the United Kingdom.

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A history of High Speed journeys in Spain The first High Speed Rail journey in Spain departed Madrid for Seville on the 21st of April, 1992.

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With close to 4000 kilometres of track, the Spanish high-speed AVE trains operate on the longest high-speed network in Europe. Running at speeds of up to 310 km/h, this extensive network allows for fast connections between cities in Spain. Travel from Madrid to Barcelona in less than 3 hours!

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The first High Speed Rail journey in Spain departed Madrid for Seville on the 21st of April, 1992.

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As of August 2022, the fastest train on Earth, based on its record speed, is the Japanese L0 Series Maglev with a record speed of 603 kilometers per hour.

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In addition to these, many other countries have developed high-speed rail infrastructure to connect major cities, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, ...

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1: Shanghai Maglev - 460 kph/286 mph (China) Based on German technology, the Maglev trains fly along an elevated track, the powerful magnets providing a super-smooth, friction-free ride.

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The world's first diesel-powered locomotive was operated in the summer of 1912 on the same line from Winterthur, but was not a commercial success.

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While the US was a passenger train pioneer in the 19th century, after WWII, railways began to decline. The auto industry was booming, and Americans bought cars and houses in suburbs without rail connections. Highways (as well as aviation) became the focus of infrastructure spending, at the expense of rail.

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There are many reasons to love the Transcantabrico, one of Spain's top train journeys. With its elegant cars and luxurious amenities, the Transcantabrico, a popular tourist train in northern Spain, is like a 5-star hotel on wheels. For many, it's the perfect way to see some of Spain's most beautiful and varied scenery.

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“Competition between state-owned train company Trenitalia and privately owned Italo on the main high-speed line has driven up quality and passenger numbers, but pushed down prices by between 20 and 25 per cent,” he explains. “It's to the benefit of everyone except domestic airlines.”

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Trenitalia's Paris to Milan route was first introduced in December 2021, serviced by Hitachi Rail's ETR1000. This super high speed train travels at 300km/h - with the ability to go400km/h if not limited by track regulations - making it the fastest train in Europe.

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Two top Spanish transport officials have resigned over a botched order for new commuter trains that cost nearly €260m ($275m; £230m). The trains could not fit into non-standard tunnels in the northern regions of Asturias and Cantabria.

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If you're planning to travel around Spain, in addition to buses, you should consider taking a ride on one of the country's high-speed trains. Spain's high-speed rail system is one of the best in the world, as it offers travelers a fast and convenient way to explore this gorgeous Mediterranean country.

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Most passenger trains are managed by Renfe, Spain's state-owned company whose acronym stands for Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles.

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After being withdrawn from service, most steam locomotives were scrapped, though some have been preserved in various railway museums. The only steam locomotives remaining in regular service are on India's heritage lines.

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is reputed as the oldest luxury train in the world.

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